{"id":184,"date":"2016-05-23T05:20:27","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T05:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/eastmeetswest\/?p=184"},"modified":"2016-05-23T05:20:27","modified_gmt":"2016-05-23T05:20:27","slug":"to-my-son-on-his-18th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/eastmeetswest\/2016\/05\/to-my-son-on-his-18th-birthday.html","title":{"rendered":"To My Son on his 18th Birthday…."},"content":{"rendered":"

Son, one\u2019s 18th<\/sup> birthday is a milestone in today\u2019s western society. It marks the beginning of your official adulthood. As you have seen already in your brief life and will see more so as you continue forward, perspective and wisdom go hand in hand. You will learn from many people as you journey through this life.\u00a0 You will receive well intentioned advice from loved ones, including me. Please learn from that advice and learn from your enemies perhaps even more.\u00a0 Keep them all in the proper perspective.\u00a0 Ask yourself who is giving you the advice and why. Ask yourself what can you gain from the advice and what can the adviser gain from giving it to you.<\/p>\n

Know that you are known by the One About Whom Naught Can Be Said. Many people call this force God or the Universal Force.\u00a0 As you have learned from Shakespeare, \u201cA rose by any other name would smell as sweet.\u201d\u00a0 You are not just known by this force you are loved by this force.\u00a0 This energy is your true father and this earth is your true mother.\u00a0\u00a0 Your mother and I are actually physical symbols of that love.\u00a0 We helped bring you to life and nurture you in the physical realm just as God does on the spiritual realm.\u00a0\u00a0 Just as you have respected your physical parents, please respect Father God and Mother Earth. Make choices with that love in mind. Listen to God. God speaks to you every day and answers all of your questions.\u00a0 Every day I would like you to take a moment to quiet your mind, and to still your thoughts. When you let go of all thoughts your real thinking will begin and you will hear the voice of God. God has always been with you and will always be with you. Know this- You Are Never Alone!!!<\/p>\n

Please take time to respect your mother. She loves you and will sacrifice everything for you. This is true of your physical mother and of Mother Earth. Make choices to protect her at all times.\u00a0 Show her your love every day. \u00a0Appreciate her every day. Enjoy the sunrise, the sunset and the stars. Enjoy grass. Enjoy sun, rain, moon and clouds.<\/p>\n

I mentioned advice earlier. Listen to it all but filter it through your loving heart. You have been blessed with a compassionate and loving heart. Use that as your filter for all information. I could give you a list of all the qualities one needs to succeed in life. However, I don\u2019t necessarily believe in the concept of a good or bad life. Life is about garnering as many experiences as possible.\u00a0 Here is where perspective comes in. You may have an experience that some would find deplorable, but with the right perspective, you will realize that it was just a learning opportunity.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Whether you score 5 touchdowns in a game or whether you lose all of your money in a business venture, know that both experiences are just learning opportunities. They don\u2019t define you. You are neither a winner or \u00a0a loser – You just are.<\/p>\n

In closing, I can\u2019t resist giving you a list of words characteristics or qualities that will help you to just be.<\/p>\n

These are your words:<\/p>\n

Be perspicacious<\/p>\n

Be poised<\/p>\n

Be prescient<\/p>\n

Be present<\/p>\n

Be perspicuous<\/p>\n

Be placid<\/p>\n

Be peaceful<\/p>\n

Be prolific and<\/p>\n

Be passionate!!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Son, one\u2019s 18th birthday is a milestone in today\u2019s western society. It marks the beginning of your official adulthood. As you have seen already in your brief life and will see more so as you continue forward, perspective and wisdom go hand in hand. You will learn from many people as you journey through this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":584,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nTo My Son on his 18th Birthday.... - East Meets West<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"To My Son on his 18th Birthday.... - East Meets West\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Son, one\u2019s 18th birthday is a milestone in today\u2019s western society. It marks the beginning of your official adulthood. 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